The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

After taking a shower, Yun Lin had already asked someone to prepare dinner: "The weather is too cold, and the dishes are cold right after they are cooked. I asked the kitchen to prepare a hot pot so that we can eat while we are cooking."

"It's good to eat hotpot. Hotpot is the best match for snowy days. It's warm! Lin'er has grown up and can take care of things." Min Xi sat down at the table, "Lin'er, sit down and eat with us."

Yun Lin did not refuse and sat down: "I have already eaten, I will eat with you two brothers."

"Okay, since you've already eaten, eat less to avoid indigestion." Yun Ji picked up the chopsticks and started putting mutton slices into the pot.

The three of them sat at the table eating hot pot and vegetables while chatting about what had happened at home and in the capital after they left. They had a very pleasant meal.

After dinner, Min Xi and Yun Ji took out the gift for Yun Lin from the things they brought back and gave it to him.

Australia is too primitive, and there are not many gifts that can be brought to Yunlin, only local specialties such as corals, pearls, opals, and shells.

Yunlin liked the gifts his brother brought him very much, and he knew that these gifts were very valuable, but his favorite was the emu eggshell that Min Xi prepared for him.

Emu eggs, whether fresh or cooked, cannot be preserved for a long time. Only the eggshell is better preserved. Use something to drill holes in the eggshell, drain the yolk and egg white inside, and then add water to clean it.

"We originally wanted to bring you two live emus, but we couldn't find one of the right size. Also, the winter in our capital is too cold, and the emus might not be able to adapt. So we didn't bring them this time. When they have raised more in the future, we'll ask them to bring some back." Min Xi explained.

Yun Lin held the dark green eggshell in his hands and couldn't let it go. "It's amazing. This is the first time I've seen an egg of this color. It looks like a gem. How big must the bird be to have such a big egg?"

"It's very big, almost as tall as a small person. It's huge, and a bird must weigh 70 to 80 kilograms. We train it to be used as a walking tool, replacing cattle and horses."

"How interesting! What does it look like?" Yun Lin couldn't imagine what a bird that big looked like.

"The neck and legs are very slender, and the body is huge. I'll draw it for you later." Yun Ji said.

"Okay! Big brother and second brother, you guys must be tired from the journey, so go and rest early. I'll come and chat with you tomorrow." Yun Lin took the gifts given by his brothers and went back to his room.

Yun Ji saw Min Xi still packing up the pile of things, so he went over and grabbed his hand: "Okay, let's stop packing. You've been tired for so many days, go to bed quickly."

Min Xi yawned: "I am quite sleepy, but now that I am home, I feel a little excited and don't feel sleepy anymore."

"Then you have to lie down and rest. If you can't sleep, I will stretch your muscles and you will fall asleep." Yun Ji pushed him to the bed.

Min Xi obediently followed him to the bed.

After returning home and lying on the familiar bed, listening to the familiar breathing and heartbeat of the person next to him, Min Xi slept particularly soundly. When he woke up, it was almost noon.

Min Xi opened his eyes, Yun Ji was no longer in bed, and the place where he had lain was only warm and cool, it seemed that he had been up for a while. There were voices coming from outside the room, and after listening carefully, it was Yun Ji and Yun Lin talking in low voices. Min Xi lay still, listening to their voices, feeling particularly satisfied, it was still good to be at home.

Min Xi lay down for a while, then slowly got up. The house was heated by a floor heater, and although it was freezing outside, it did not affect the warmth inside. Min Xi put on his clothes and came out, and saw Yun Ji and Yun Lin sorting out the things they had brought back.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Yun Ji turned around and said gently, "Are you up? Go rinse your mouth and wash your face. We'll have dinner soon."

Min Xi yawned: "What time is it?"

"It's almost noon. After dinner, let's go and pay New Year's greetings to grandma and uncle."

"it is good!"

After Min Xi finished washing up, the food was already on the table. It was no longer a hot pot, but basically a clay pot. The charcoal fire in the small stove was burning red, and the clay pot was burning with hot steam and fragrance. This is how you should eat in winter.

Min Xi cooked and ate early lunch. After that, they took gifts and went to Tao's house to pay New Year's greetings. Although it was a little late, it was still during the festival, so it was appropriate.

When they arrived at the Tao Mansion, they were having lunch and there were guests. Their arrival made the already bustling Tao Mansion even more lively.

The three brothers were pulled to the table and asked to have another meal. Min Xi and Yun Ji had no choice but to sit down and toast everyone with a few glasses of wine before they were allowed to leave.

The happiest person for their safe return was none other than Old Madam Tao. She could no longer see people clearly. Even at noon, she could only see a blurry shadow. The old lady held Yun Ji and Min Xi's hands, tears streaming down her face: "You are finally back safely. Grandma is blind and can't even see what you look like. Don't go out again in the future. Stay at home well. The most important thing is to be safe."

Min Xi looked at this old woman who had no blood relationship with him, but he also regarded her as his elder from the bottom of his heart. He felt a little uncomfortable and looked at Yun Ji, and found that Yun Ji was also looking at him. Yun Ji did not dare to promise Madam Tao that he would not go out in the future, because everything depended on Min Xi's decision.

Min Xi had no choice but to say, "Grandma, we will try not to go out in the future. We will find a doctor to check your eyes. We will find you any medicine you need and will definitely cure your eyes."

Min Xi has examined the old lady and believes that she should have cataracts in her eyes. However, with the current level of medical care, it is impossible to perform surgery on her. Otherwise, cataracts are just a minor operation. Now she can only see a Chinese doctor to relieve her symptoms.

Madam Tao said, "The doctor said that my eyes are clouded. I have seen many doctors and taken a lot of medicine, but they are all incapable of helping me. You should stop worrying about it."

Yun Ji said, "Grandma, we have to try again."

"The imperial physician has also checked it, but it's useless. Don't make things difficult for me. I'm old, and I've eaten what I should have eaten and seen what I should have seen in my life. I have many children and grandchildren, so there's nothing to regret. I'll just live one day at a time." Old Madam Tao was quite open-minded.

But the more she understood, the sadder Yun Ji and Yun Lin became, especially Yun Lin. He grew up with his grandmother. Without his grandmother, he wouldn't be where he is today. At this moment, he was in tears, but he didn't dare cry out loud, for fear that his grandmother would worry.

Min Xi and Yun Ji quickly changed the subject and handed the gifts they brought to Old Lady Tao to her. There were four pearls of six or seven centimeters in size and a red coral that was one foot tall, all of which were extremely valuable. There was also a box of shells and conchs for her to give to the children to play with.

Mrs. Tao tried to open her eyes wide to see the gifts they gave her, but she couldn't see them clearly. She could only reach out to touch them: "These are all good things. They are of no use to me. You should take them back."

"Grandma, this thing is our gift to you as a token of our filial piety. You can do whatever you want with it," said Yun Ji.

Mrs. Tao asked someone to put the things away, and then she talked to the two of them for a long time. When they talked about what they saw and heard in Southeast Asia, she found it interesting and couldn't help but say, "There is nothing there. You must have suffered a lot. You are so thin that you can feel the veins on the back of your hands. You are really too thin. You must take good care of your body when you come back. Don't overwork yourself. Taking good care of your body is the first priority."

"I understand, grandma! We won't go anywhere from now on. We will just stay at home and eat, sleep and grow weight." Min Xi agreed readily.

"That's how it should be!"

The gifts for the two uncles were also corals and pearls, but the number of pearls was less and the sizes were smaller. In addition, several opals were given to their female relatives to make jewelry. There were also many beautiful conch shells, which were given to the children to play with.

The gifts given to my cousins ​​were also corals, but not the most precious red corals.

After delivering the gifts, Yun Ji and Min Xi were called to the study by their uncle Tao Lizhi. After asking about their experiences in Nanyang, they talked about the current situation in the court. In the more than a year since they were away, there have been a lot of personnel changes in the court, with some people coming up and some people going down. Wanli has already taken power, and the young emperor wants to achieve some political achievements and is very enterprising, but he is too young and a little impulsive, which conflicts with the opinions of the cabinet ministers.

"Your Majesty and Lord Zhang have had some unpleasant relations recently. I heard that they had a quarrel in the Qianqing Palace, and after that Lord Zhang claimed to be sick and stayed at home. It has been more than a month now, and Your Majesty has never sent anyone to invite him to court. There are rumors in the court that Lord Zhang has lost power. But major matters in the court still need to be decided by Lord Zhang. Although Your Majesty does not want to see Lord Zhang, he still values ​​his opinions." Tao Lizhi sighed when he said this.

Min Xi said with emotion: "Your Majesty has grown up and no longer needs a minister to make decisions for him."

"That's right!" Tao Lizhi agreed.